Glossary

What are Specially Designated Nationals (SDNs)?

Individuals and entities on the OFAC SDN List.

Definition

SDNs are designated under various legal authorities for terrorism, narcotics, proliferation, and aggression.

Regulatory context

A Specially Designated National is any individual on the SDN List whose assets are blocked.

Who it affects

Each entry includes name, aliases, date of birth, passport, nationality, address, and designation authority.

Relevance to AI agents

AI agents must not transact with SDN-listed parties. The operator is the responsible US person.

agentmail coverage

agentmail uses fuzzy matching for names and aliases against the full SDN list.

FAQ

1. Are SDN designations permanent?

No. Some designations are removed after sanctions relief, settlements, or policy changes, while others remain in place for decades. Because entries are added and delisted continuously, agentmail refreshes daily so your agent is neither screening against stale data nor missing a newly designated party.

2. Can delisted SDNs re-enter the financial system?

Yes. Once OFAC removes a party from the SDN List their assets are unblocked and they may transact again, though enhanced due diligence is still prudent. agentmail reflects delistings on its next daily refresh, so a formerly blocked counterparty stops flagging once officially removed by Treasury.

3. Does being an SDN block ALL transactions?

Yes. Unless OFAC grants a specific license, US persons are prohibited from any transaction with an SDN, and all property in which the SDN has an interest is blocked. This is why a single pre-payment screen matters: one unscreened payment to an SDN is a complete violation.

Related glossary terms

Add OFAC screening to your agents

Free tier: 5 checks/day, no API key. Scale from $19/mo.

See pricing